Eli Raridon or Mike Washington Jr.: Who Should You Start?
Preliminary board2026 Week 4 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.
Verdicts sharpen as practice reports land.
Washington wins a head-to-head between two sits because Raridon is ruled out
Washington is the comparison winner, not a start recommendation: Raridon is ruled out, while Washington is available. Raridon’s stronger team scoring outlook and larger share of snaps would matter if active, but his developmental TE2 role and tiny target share leave little cushion. Washington’s change-of-pace role behind the feature back also limits his touch floor, so this separates two bench options rather than making Washington lineup-worthy.
What flips it: Raridon being cleared and earning a larger, more reliable receiving role.
AI editor
Eli Raridon
1.31.72.2 Projected Points
Mike Washington Jr.
3.03.13.2 Projected Points
Eli Raridon’s market
Mike Washington Jr.’s market
Why Eli Raridon
Sit· highRookie TE2 / developmental piece. Big-framed in-line body with limited prior sample.
Ruled Out this week, and even when active he's a 37% snap, 4% target share TE projected for 2.2 PPR points.
- His better team scoring outlook is only theoretical while he is ruled out.
- Even active, a developmental TE2 role offers little margin at a target-dependent position.
The call
- Availability is listed as Out, which settles it. He can't score from the bench, so he can't be in a lineup.
- The role is marginal anyway: a 37% snap share and 4% target share across 2 games make him a non-factor in PPR formats.
- The matchup doesn't help. BUF ranks 11 of 32 vs TEs, a tougher-than-average draw, though that's on a thin 3-game sample at 0.25 confidence.
- The unverified patriots.com headline about him making the trip is dated 2026-09-26 and concerns a Jaguars game. It doesn't override this week's Out designation. This confirms the model's sit-lean.
Latest on Raridon
Raridon (thigh) and Woodson (shoulder) are both questionable for Week 3 in Jacksonville.
Mike Reiss breaks down Eli Raridon's return to practice as the Patriots monitor his status ahead of Sunday's matchup with Jacksonville.
New England wants Maye to be patient but aggressive. Can he have success against the daunting Pittsburgh defense?
Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.
Why Mike Washington Jr.
SitRookie RB2 in change-of-pace role. Complementary back behind the feature runner with no NFL sample yet.
Sit — bench-tier RB at consensus RB50: 19.0 implied team total caps the ceiling, 1% target share.
- Availability is the decisive edge; it does not change the feature back’s hold on the workload.
- His change-of-pace role offers little receiving insulation, keeping him a bench call.
Latest on Washington
Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.
Head-to-head stats
| Metric | Eli Raridon | Mike Washington Jr. |
|---|---|---|
| Projected points | 1.31.72.2 | 3.03.13.2 |
| Consensus rank | — | RB50 |
| Opponent vs position | BUF · 11 of 323-game sample | KC · 13 of 323-game sample |
| Receptions | 13 of 32 | 7 of 32 |
| Receiving Yards | 9 of 32 | 9 of 32 |
| Receiving TDs | 10 of 32 | — |
| Targets | 16 of 32 | — |
| Anytime TD | 9 of 32 | 21 of 32 |
| Rushing Yards | — | 7 of 32 |
| Rushing TDs | — | 25 of 32 |
| Rushing Attempts | — | 6 of 32 |
| Target share | 4% | 1% |
| Reception share | 6% | 0% |
| Implied total · spread | 23.3+3.0 | 19.0+5.5 |
| Depth chart | TE2 | RB2 |
| Snap share | 37% | 18% |
| Injury designation | Out | — |
Recent form
Eli Raridon — last 3 weeks
| Week 3 | vs JAX | DNP |
| Week 2 | vs PIT | 3.03.54.0 |
| Week 1 | vs SEA | 6.26.77.2 |
Mike Washington Jr. — last 3 weeks
| Week 3 | vs NO | 11.411.411.4 |
| Week 2 | vs LAC | 0.70.70.7 |
| Week 1 | vs MIA | 4.14.14.1 |
Signal breakdown
- 2.2 vs 3.2 projected PPR pointsMike Washington Jr. +
- Consensus position rankeven
- Opponent DvP rank 11 vs 13 (32 = softest)Mike Washington Jr. +
- Implied 23.3 vs 19.0 team pointsEli Raridon +
- A ruled-out player cannot be a startMike Washington Jr. +
- 37% vs 18% snap shareEli Raridon +
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